RSC16 week 37

EVER-POPULAR PINK

During the history of American quilt making, pink was a difficult color to produce.  Red was very popular, as in the Baltimore Album quilts of the 1850's.  After the Civil War a process of printing red and white tiny figures produced what was called ""double pink".  

Here is a small quilt top from my collection, 8 X 8 inches, 

The binding is a stable red dye from the late 1800's. It is printed with tiny black leafy twigs.  The dark blue printed with white dots has not faded at all.  That's what is good about an old flimsie which shows the unfaded colors on the back.

The reddish pink is a fine fabric and, when magnified, shows that the pink is actually woven with white and reddish warp and weft to produce the pink.  The two HSTs in the corner are faded tan with tiny rosy flowers and green leaves overprinted on white.  This block is hand pieced and dates to the second half of the 1800's.

Aren't we fortunate today to have thousands of fabrics in every color imaginable?

My little boat for September is taking off to join the fleet

I also finished my Twinker star last night after only one stint of ripping.  It took me quite a while to decide on which fabrics to use to represent colorful roses.  One of my very favorites is "Joseph's Coat", a tall climber with many shades or red, orange and gold.  That was my inspiration.

It's so nice to be working with these cheerful colors.  I hope all of you friends will enjoy this month.  After this past summer it is looking great already.  

I'm linking up with

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy

Sew Cute Tuesday at

Young Texan Mama

RSC16 week 33

GETTING THINGS DONE

In the hot weather it's slower going for me.  I'd much rather take a nap.  But I did get several things done for August already.

My first RSC16 block is my sailboat, actually a sloop like one my uncle owned until he upgraded to a schooner.  The sloops have only a single mast, but often fly the mainsail and a jib.  In my purple stash I found a very rich regal purple.  It had to have equally regal golden sails for its important owner.

My 16-patch block resulted in a good range of dark to light purples.  The exact definition of purple eludes me, so I include some red violet hues as well for variety.

My Twinkler star block just called out for the lovely floral at its center, even though I had to cut the fabric in half just to get the best piece.  

Oh well, now I have more scraps and a bit less yardage.  I always like to fussy cut as close to the edge of a stash piece as possible.  This one, however, was worth the sacrifice.

For my improv block I'm trying out black, gray and whites this month.  I've never worked with this combination so it's going to be interesting.  I've seen some excellent examples of b/w used by some terrific quilters, so I might as well stick my toe in the water.

This past Monday I went to my quilt group to show my finished pair of  Pinwheel Row quilts.  Both will probably end up as Project Linus quilts, but maybe I'll hang one on my bedroom wall to enjoy for a while.

I hope all of you are doing okay in this hot weather.  Keep cool by quilting!

I'm linking up this week with

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

soscrappy 

Modern HST Sampler at

Blossom Heart Quilts

RSC16 week 28

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT

With the hot weather upon us, using these watermelon colors seems to be keeping me cool, at least in my mind.  The luscious colors are really dripping with cool.  

Each month I seem to be starting off with my sailboats because, truthfully, they are the fastest to make.   This is one where I found the HSTs already made from some other project, so it almost felt like cheating.  On the other hand I don't have a Parts Deptartment full of orphan blocks, like Magpie Sue's.  

I really had a good time making this 16-patch block.  My scrap box of rose, pink and lime is not very full this month, so I dithered around until I came across a bunch of polka dot pink charm squares.  I've never been fond of them, but for this block they made it so playful I could not resist.  I think it's now my favorite 16-patch.

These dots also remind me of watermelon seeds, the little white ones.  I even found some wonky green melons.

This week I also entered the OMG July Monthly goal at Red Letter Quilts, which is to quilt and bind my two Pinwheel Row quilts.  So that is my major undertaking for now.  I'm using my walking foot to do a mix of straight and wavy lines (It's not always clear which is which.)  

For my Twinkler star I found some gorgeous flowers like the full blown rose, so that will be my focal point.  

My wish for all of you dear friends is a fun and satisfying week, whatever that includes.

I'm linking up this week with 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy 

Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts 

One Monthly Goal at Red Letter Quilts

Brave Quilter at Pink Doxies
Have a look at all the interesting things that are going on there.

RSC16 week 19

,MAY DAY WEEK

This little paper basket filled with some Hershey Kisses was hanging on my door early in the morning of May 1st.  Some kind person makes these for all 60 apartments in our senior housing every year. I've been here five years and this unknown stranger never forgets.

I have done very little quilting this week, but have treated myself outrageously.  Here is the sum total of my work this week.

Due to unexpected happenings I got only this little sailboat made.  The other two green fabrics have been cut for the Modern HST Sampler block which I hope will be done by next week.  The dark print is from Barbara Brackman's William Morris collection. 

I think spring fever has gotten to me with tulips, magnolias and crab apples in bloom.

Also, because my birthday ending in a 5 came yesterday I simply had to do some online shopping at those convenient Mother's Day sales.  

This wild bunch arrived from Hancock's of Paducah first.  The one on the right is Mexican Poppies and the other three are from another designer, so fabulous on black.  I've no idea what I'll use them for, just to gaze at and dream for a while.  All half price, of course.

That was followed by the arrival of this pack of 17 fat quarters from Connecting Threads, for about 24 dollars.  They sure are better than candy and yummier looking, aren't they?

The final saving opportunity (splurge) were two gift certificates pour moi at Missouri Star's one day sale   price.  Also my granddaughter called to ask what kind of cake I like best for birthday/Mother's Day.  She is becoming an excellent baker and dark chocolate is her favorite as well as mine.

I hope you all have a happy Mother's Day for yourself and/or your mothers or other wonderful mothers you know.

NOTICE:  Thanks in part to Kate at Smiles from Kate and a session with a local techie, I now have ACTUAL LINKS to Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy and with Blossom Heart Quilts at Blossom Heart Quilts